The public understands nurses’ value – pay needs to catch up
Nursing Standard’s annual investigation into gifts given to NHS nursing staff attests to the public’s high regard for the profession and how much they value nurses’ skills and compassion. Gifts range from toasters and teapots to cash and money left in wills, but such gestures from patients and their families’ towards nurses won’t pay the bills. Editor Flavia Munn asks why government pay awards for NHS staff continue to ignore this reality.
Our investigation into gifts given to NHS nursing staff shows how the public values the profession. Why do government pay awards continue to ignore this reality?
Our annual investigation into the gifts given to nursing and other NHS staff always affirms the affection and appreciation felt for this profession. If only others would replicate such gestures when it comes to pay.
One patient literally threw cash at a nurse in Shropshire, such was their determination to thank staff, despite being told they would have to decline the gift due to trust policy.
Nurses shown gratitude by patients and families but undervalued by government
Other patients and families bequeathed thousands of pounds in wills, according to the gift registers of 131 UK trusts and health boards that responded to our freedom of information requests.
Those of you who have been on the receiving end of such kindness will be familiar with the arguments of patients and their relatives that they ‘just want to thank you’ – and also that you deserve it and to be better paid.
Well-meaning gifts of toasters and teapots won’t pay the bills, of course, but are symbolic of the special relationship and understanding between patients and their nurses, acting as advocates, caregivers and confidants.
The highly and multi-skilled role of the nurse, providing complex clinical care and leadership, regardless of seniority, is persistently underplayed and undervalued by government. To fully recognise this would mean to pay nurses more.
Keep shining a light on what nurses do and why they deserve better
This is why as we prepare to start a new year – with many of you, undoubtedly, feeling battle-weary from this one – we need to keep shining a light on what nurses do and why you deserve so much better.
Yet again nursing unions are in a battle with government over what has been branded a ‘deeply offensive’ pay offer, with a recommendation of 2.8% for 2025-26 made to the NHS Pay Review Body (RB).
The three biggest health unions – the RCN, Unite and Unison – are also refusing to participate in the independent RB process, and are instead demanding direct talks.
Patients and the public understand the value of nursing. Government needs to catch up.
